Cod confit with dried figs is a perfect main dish for your next Christmas or New Year's Eve dinner. It tastes delicious and is sophisticated, it's perfect if you want to surprise your guests as well as eating healthily. 

We will add a bit of sweetness thanks to the key ingredient: El Pajarero dried figs, which not only provide nutrients, but will enhance the flavor of the cod, taking it to the next level! 

5 important reasons for preparing this delicious dish

This cod confit recipe is not only delicious, but also very easy to cook. The white fish will provide everything you need, and with hardly any fat. 

It can be prepared in a short time, so it's perfect if you're in a hurry but want something delicious!

A light dish that your digestive system will be grateful for, since these are dates when people eat more than usual.

All the benefits of dried figs in your dish, as they provide fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and that sweet touch that will enhance the flavor of the cod.

Although this dish can be enjoyed at any time of the year, when it really excels is during the winter, as it is perfect if you want to warm up with something rich and tasty.

Ingredients for 4 people

• 1 kg of cod loin
   
• 12 dried figs El Pajarero
   
• 2 cloves of garlic
   
• 2 onions
   
• 8 roasted almonds
   
• Olive oil
   
• Spices to taste
   
• Suggested garnish: slices of sweet potatoes and potatoes or grilled vegetables.

6 steps to prepare cod confit with dried figs

1. The first thing is to buy a good cod. If you are lucky enough to have it desalted, even better! We will need a large loin or four small ones depending on your needs. In case you get salted cod, we suggest you soak it a day before. This will remove any excess salt. Wash it, check it for any bones and remove any excess water.

2. A couple of hours before cooking the fish, hydrate the dried figs in warm water, this will allow them to be more tender, juicy, and retain all their properties. Then remove the excess water, cut them into pieces and set them aside.

3. Pour plenty of olive oil in a saucepan. Once it starts to sizzle over medium heat, add the whole garlic, the finely chopped onion and after a few minutes, add the El Pajarero dried figs. Let them cook for about three minutes. The sweetness and color of the dried figs will add a special touch to this recipe. Then reduce the heat and add the cod. Now is the time to season it with the herbs or spices of your choice.

4. From the pan, extract 6 figs and put them in the blender. Blend them with a little of the cooking oil and about 8 roasted almonds to obtain a delicate sauce and set aside.

5. The secret of a good confit is to watch the heat. Keep in mind that the cod will cook quickly. Do not allow the oil to boil. The cod has to cook inside, if you notice that it is browning too much, turn off the heat, cover it and let it cook with the residual heat. Pierce the cod and notice if its center is soft, if it is, it is because our cod is cooked to perfection!

6. Now it is time to plate. Choose a nice plate. Place the cod, decorate with a few pieces of figs, and on one side pour the fine fig sauce. As garnish you can choose sweet potatoes, potatoes or baked eggplants or why not, some good old grilled vegetables. The combination of the rich flavors of the ingredients of this delicacy will delight the senses of all your guests. Enjoy this incredible restaurant quality dish!

Happy Holidays!

Magnesium is an essential micromineral that plays a crucial part in the basic fundamental structural function in human beings. Since it’s present in bones, its balance becomes basic for an adequate function of our organism.

Furthermore, it also regulates our system, we can find magnesium’s implication in many reactions of energy acquisition inside our cells. This micromineral also contributes to the normal functioning of muscle tissue. 

In which part of our bodies is magnesium present?

Magnesium is present in our human bodies, basically in muscle and bone tissue. At the same time, although in small quantities, it is present in our bloodstream and red blood cells. That's why it’s important to assure proper levels of magnesium in our diets.

What food should we consume regularly to get adequate levels of magnesium?

To obtain a good level of magnesium, we can find this micromineral in food such as dried figs, avocados, nuts such as almonds, cashews or pistachios, some seeds such as pumpkin, flax or sesame, unsweetened cocoa powder, white corn, snails, oily fish, herbs and spices, fruits such as grapefruit or lemon, dark bitter chocolate and berries, to cite the most obvious examples.

It should be noted that its multifunctionality means that it comes to play a more or less prominent role in more than 300 reactions that occur in our body, although we may not be aware of them. Just to name a few examples, you will find magnesium in:

• Muscle contraction
• Protein synthesis
• Maintenance of healthy teeth, heart and bones
• Supporting protein formation
• Oxygen transport
• Energy metabolism
• Immune functions
• The intervention of the nervous contraction and in the nervous transmission.

It is therefore of vital importance to ingest the foods mentioned previously. Although in most cases, those who are most concerned about maintaining the correct levels of magnesium are athletes, especially runners,we should all be aware of the consumption of food with magnesium.

What are the consequences of magnesium deficiency?

A large enough magnesium deficiency can cause structural damage to muscle cells, so we can get tired earlier and suffer more fatigue, we can encounter metabolic problems when normal energy is being produced or even, without this micromineral, we could lose the electrolyte balance in our body.

Other effects of a lack of magnesium in our body can be irritability, convulsions, decreased appetite or weakened muscles.

On the other hand, it is important to know that the use of magnesium is particularly useful for people who do sports, who have a high rate of sweating or who train under intense hot weather conditions. Our body eliminates excess magnesium by itself. 

Consuming natural foods such as dried figs (you can find them almost all year round), some nuts, some citrus fruits, avocados (and others mentioned above) can help you get the magnesium levels your body needs. Consult your doctor to know your needs and maintain them properly.